A bipartisan group of 100 lawmakers, led by Representatives Brian Schatz and Roger Wicker, are pushing for an extension of pandemic-era legislation that allowed Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth services from their homes regardless of where they live. This legislation, set to expire on December 31, plays a critical role in healthcare delivery and has been instrumental in improving outcomes for patients.
The lawmakers are advocating for the inclusion of an extension in a year-end appropriations package. They noted that Congress has already recognized the importance of telehealth by including provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act in previous COVID-19 relief legislation. The current two-year extension of Medicare telehealth coverage was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, and relevant House committees recently voted to advance an additional two-year extension.
In a letter to congressional leadership, the lawmakers stressed the importance of removing geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expanding the types of providers eligible to offer telehealth services. They also called for telehealth to be allowed for the recertification of hospice care and for the permanent repeal of the six-month, in-person visit requirement for tele-mental health services.
The lawmakers emphasized the overwhelming support for permanent telehealth legislation, highlighting the need for long-term certainty to support continued investment in technology and clinical models to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Medicare beneficiaries. This extension is crucial for ensuring continued access to care and improved outcomes for patients in the post-pandemic era.
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